Essentials in Church History / A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"

by Joseph Fielding Smith

The Journey Resumed

March 1, 1846, camp was broken and the journey was resumed. The weather was extremely cold and stormy, and a great number of the people were without proper clothing and necessary shelter. Many of the wagons were without covers, and others had covers which would not shed the rain. Several members of the camps died from exposure and lack of proper care. The roads were almost impassable because of the constant storms.^{[3 ]} At this time there were some four hundred wagons on the road, heavily laden and without sufficient teams to permit of rapid travel. In this condition the exiles continued their toilsome journey over the plains of Iowa. By the latter part of April the great body of the Latter-day Saints had left Nauvoo and were slowly wending their way seeking a haven in the west.

Organization of the Camps

While encamped near the Chariton River on the east fork of Shoal Creek, the organization of the camps was reduced to a more systematic order. They were divided into companies of hundreds, fifties and tens, with officers appointed to preside over each. The apostles were appointed to take charge of divisions, and the camps were divided into two grand divisions. Over one of these President Brigham Young had command. He was also sustained as “president over all the camps of Israel.” Elder Heber C. Kimball was appointed to the command of the other grand division. In addition to these officers there were appointed a contracting commissary and a distributing commissary for each fifty. The duties of the former were to agree on terms, prices, etc., concerning the purchase of provisions and necessities for the camp. The latter were to distribute among the camps the grain and provisions furnished for that purpose, judiciously and with singleness of heart. This organization led to better discipline. The companies were more susceptible to advice and counsel, and the principle of obedience was more fully understood. Less selfishness was manifested among the people, and a better spirit prevailed. Of necessity the regulations in the camps were strict, yet the freedom and rightful privileges of the Saints were safely guaranteed. Much of the dross had been left behind, and the “fair weather friends,” as they were called by Col. Thomas L. Kane, had forsaken the tents of Israel and had sought the tents of ease. In this manner the camps were purged of those who were not faithful enough to face the perils and deprivations of the eventful journey. Although there were difficulties and differences to be settled from time to time, President Young was led to declare that he doubted if there had ever been a body of people, since the days of Enoch, who had done so little grumbling under such unpleasant and trying circumstances.

Garden Grove

At the beginning of the journey about one hundred men, under command of Colonel Stephen Markham, were selected as pioneers, to travel in advance of the companies to build and repair the roads; also to seek out temporary places for shelter where fields could be cultivated and homes—humble though they, of necessity, would have to be—might be provided for the exiles. The advance companies arrived at a place on the east fork of Grand River, some one hundred and forty-five miles west of Nauvoo, April 24, 1846. Here a temporary settlement was selected which they named Garden Grove. Two days later a council meeting was held and three hundred and fifty-nine laboring men were reported in the camp. From these one hundred were selected to cut trees and make rails; ten to build fences; forty-eight to build houses; twelve to dig wells and ten to build bridges. The remainder were employed in clearing land and preparing it for cultivation. Every one was busy, and in a few days a respectable village, magic like, had risen in the wilderness. A temporary organization was effected with Samuel Bent as president, and Aaron Johnson and David Fullmer as counselors. At this point President Young addressed the Saints saying it would be necessary to leave some of their number here, because they could not continue the journey, while the main body would push on and “lengthen the cords and build a few more stakes,” and so continue on until they could all gather at the place appointed, and “build the house of the Lord in the tops of the mountains.”

Proposition to Explore the West

It was the intention of President Young and the apostles to fit out a strong company of able-bodied men, unencumbered with families, and send them to the Rocky Mountains, there to build houses and plant crops, and prepare for the coming of the people as they were able to gather from year to year. “Were matters to be so conducted,” he said, “none would be found crying for bread or destitute of clothing, but all would be provided for, as designed by the Almighty. But instead of taking this course the Saints have crowded on us all the while, and have completely tied our hands by importuning and saying, ‘Do not leave us behind. Wherever you go, we want to go, and be with you;’ and thus our hands and feet have been bound, which has caused our delay to the present time. And now hundreds at Nauvoo are continually praying and importuning with the Lord that they may overtake us, and be with us.” An estimate of what would be required for a company of pioneers to take such a journey was made and the project was considered, but subsequent events prevented the undertaking until the following year.

Mount Pisgah

On the 18th of May President Young and several of the apostles reached the middle fork of Grand River, some twenty-seven miles west of Garden Grove. Here Parley P. Pratt with a company was found encamped. He had called the place Mount Pisgah, and here it was decided to make another settlement for the Saints. Several thousand acres of land were fenced for cultivation, after the manner of the settlement at Garden Grove, and this place became a resting place for the weary exiles for several years while crossing the plains. Elder William Huntington was chosen to preside with Elders Ezra T. Benson and Charles C. Rich as counselors. The camps were now traveling through an Indian country, where there were no roads, no settlements and only Indian trails. The spring rains having ceased, however, greater progress was made although a road had to be prepared all the way, and bridges built over all the streams.